Understanding the drinking culture in China

I love a drink. I love everything from a room temperature Rivet to a juicy chilled Italian red and everything in between. I especially love how different drinks bring with them different traditions and occasions, and more importantly, bending these rules for a laugh and a surprise.

Drinking culture in China is a completely different beast. Memories of banquet dinners accompany endless sculling, toasts and empty bottles of baijiu and beer. Dad's stories of his time working in China can be boiled up to a single statement - "no business deal was completed without alcohol". Drinking etiquette also brings with it a handful of rules - the host or eldest person should announce the first toast; you should hold your glass with two hands as a sign of respect; and most importantly, if someone invites you to drink (jing jiu), it is HIGHLY recommended that you drink. I mean, there is literally a Chinese phrase for drinking courage (jiu dan) and refers to your ability to consume plentifully and with gusto. There is probably a broad assumption that the west can outdrink the east, but sit in on a Chinese banquet and your opinion might just change.

With all that being said, the post lockdown seshes have been getting out of hand so I think Dry July is a go this year...

- Jeff